How Connecticut DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Connecticut is prosecuted in the Superior Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Connecticut's Superior Court, organised into geographical areas and judicial districts, is the only trial court hearing operating-under-the-influence cases under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a, misdemeanor and felony alike. Appeals go to the Connecticut Appellate Court, with discretionary review by the Connecticut Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at jud.ct.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Connecticut
A DUI case in Connecticut is heard in the Superior Court, and a separate licence action runs alongside the criminal case.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a and request a breath, blood or urine test under Connecticut's implied-consent section, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227b. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action by the state agency — An OUI arrest triggers a per se licence suspension administered by the Connecticut DMV. That action runs on its own timetable, independent of the criminal case.
- 3Arraignment in the Superior Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Superior Court. Connecticut's Superior Court, organised into geographical areas and judicial districts, is the only trial court hearing operating-under-the-influence cases under Conn.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. There are no municipal DUI courts in Connecticut; every OUI case is filed in the Superior Court geographical area covering the town of arrest.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500–$1,000, jail exposure up to 6 months, a licence suspension of 45 days, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense brings a 45-day suspension followed by an interlock period.
- 6Reinstatement — Eligible drivers use the DMV's online service to pay the licence reinstatement fee. Connecticut requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Connecticut
- There are no municipal DUI courts in Connecticut; every OUI case is filed in the Superior Court geographical area covering the town of arrest.
- First-time offenders may apply for the Pretrial Impaired Driving Intervention Program using Judicial Branch form JD-CR-191.
- The DMV's per se licence suspension proceeds administratively, separately from the Superior Court case.
- The DMV runs an Ignition Interlock Device programme described on its licence suspension pages.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Connecticut ZIP codes covered
These Connecticut ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Connecticut resources
Counties
Other Connecticut official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Connecticut?
- First-offense DUI cases in Connecticut are heard in the Superior Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.